The majestic ‘Prashad’ of the Tagore’s | hidden heritage of Kolkata | story of Pathuriaghata palace.

The story of the Prashad ,along with the Tagore castle,Pathuriaghata

Prasanna Kumar, who in turn willed the property to his nephew Jatindra Mohan, a man who adopted Western ideas.
Jatindra Mohan made several changes to the house; he wanted to model it on the Highland castles of Scotland. In October 1895, the renovation of Kali Kumar's property began in real earnest, with Mackintosh Burn and Company getting the layout and elevation plans done in England by an architect who was an expert in the designing of castles. The architecture of the original house had to be changed considerably. A hundred feet tall central tower was built, complete with a flagstaff, Jatindra Mohan had received permission from the British Government to fly the Union Jack on the top of the castle. At the entrance of the house was a clock tower, for which a clock was imported from England; it did not keep Indian time, but matched that of Big Ben in London.
Jatindra Mohan was one of the pioneers of Bengali theatre. He built an auditorium on the third floor of Tagore Castle. The house had large reception

rooms, much like those in the homes of English dukes and barons. The field behind the house was designed as a rampart to make the property safe.
The architecture of Tagore Castle made it one of the most talked-about residences in the city.
Tagore Castle was well decorated inside and out, and housed a rare collection of books and manuscripts.
Among all the houses owned by the Tagore family- at Pathuriaghata, Jorasanko, Belgachia and Koylaghata - this was the one best known for its sheer aesthetic appeal. Even Dwarakanath Tagore's Belgachia garden house, fitted out in European style and built with a princely sum of Rs 2 lakhs, paled in comparison to this architectural marvel. By remodelling Kali Kumar's modest home, Jatindra Mohan proved that a castle can look just as stunning in Calcutta as it does in the Scottish Highlands. Kali Kumar had also inherited his father's zamindari, which included stables, garages and offices. These too, were remodelled substantially after they became part of Jatindra Mohan's inheritance.
Tagore Castle changed hands in the 1950s and was modified beyond recognition, thus losing the identity and charm that had once made it one of the most remarkable homes of the Bengali elite.

Text credit, the book by
Gouri basu,the Calcutta stately homes and palaces.

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